Finger Fractures
Finger Fractures picture album Several pictures illustrating finger fractures and treatment. Digital Block video 3D animation of the administration of a digital block. Percutaneous Pinning of a Finger Tip video 3D animation demonstrating surgical fixation of a broken distal phalanx.
A phalangeal fracture of the hand is a broken finger.   (A phalangeal fracture of the foot would be a broken toe.)  Finger fractures are very common.  They may occur from  crush injuries, “jamming” injuries, direct blows, twisting   injuries, etc.    An injury to a finger resulting in pain and tenderness at one  or more of the phalanges raises suspicion for a fracture.    There may also be swelling or deformity at the fracture site.   X-rays should be obtained to investigate for fractures or  dislocations. Once the fracture has been identified, a treatment plan is  formulated.  Treatment depends on several factors:  Location Which bone is broken?  It is important to identify which  finger bone is broken.  The fingers are numbered 1 to  5.  Each of the fingers has three bones, except for the  thumb which has two.  They are known as the proximal,  middle, and distal phalanges.  (Proximal is closer to the  body and distal is farther away from the body.) What part of the bone is broken?  It may be the head,  shaft, or base. Displacement and Alignment  Is there just a crack through the bone?  Or have the  fragments been pulled apart?  Is the bone straight?  Or is there angulation?  Is there any rotational deformity to the finger?  Comminution  Is there a simple, clean break?  Or has the bone broken  into several pieces? Open or Closed  Open fractures are associated with a laceration or   puncture wound (once called compound fractures). Closed fractures are not associated with a break in the skin.   Joint Involvement  Is the fracture intra-articular?  (Does the crack go into   the joint?)  How much of the articular (joint) surface is involved?